Shanghai hip-hop's coming out party

After a year of creativity and preparation, Shanghainese hip-hop is poised to spring full-force into the public awareness with "Shanghai Hip-Hop II", a promotional party co-sponsored by ShanghaiNing.com and Sony-BMG this Friday at Club Fusion. What's the occasion, you ask? The release of ShanghaiNing.com's first official mixtape: Say What You Gotta Say (有啥讲啥 or you sha jiang sha).

In some respects, "Shanghai Hip-Hop II" is the culmination of a life's work for ShanghaiNing.com. The website serves as a creative space for Shanghai's burgeoning street culture (街头文化 or jietou wenhua) scene, providing its members and the public at large with information on upcoming events and a forum for discussion. Furthermore, the site acts as a server for local rap and hip-hop artists to make their music available for public download, creating exposure for new talent and material. In this respect, ShanghaiNing.com is more than just a website -- it reflects the maturation of Shanghainese hip-hop as it has grown from a fledgling movement to a cultural identity.

If you are one of those people who constantly complains about the lack of musical diversity within the Shanghai bar/club scene, this is your chance to support the changing face of Chinese music. If you can't make it Friday, pick up a copy of Say What You Gotta Say at Club Fusion any time for RMB 10. If your laziness prevents you from getting there personally, email ShanghaiNing.com and they will kuaidi (快递) a copy to any Shanghai address for a nominal fee.

Shanghai Hip-Hop II at Club Fusion, 323 Middle Fuxing Lu (复兴中路323号), Friday, July 29, 9 pm - late. Tickets: RMB 55 with online registration, RMB 70 at the door (includes one drink and a legal copy of Say What You Gotta Say. Tel (电话): 6311-2220, 6384-5326.